Event Review: Oregon’s Birthday Party!

This year, we decided to celebrate in Oregon’s Oldest City – Astoria! And Dr John was looking down upon us – for there was almost NO rain, and temperatures we riding in the mid-60s. In Astoria!! In February!! Fucking Amazing…

The festivities started on Friday night at the Liberty Theater, a gorgeous, historic venue in downtown Astoria.We assisted Matthew Cowan of the Oregon Historical Society with the Pictorial History of Oregon glass lantern presentation. The Clatsop County Historical Society put on the event, and the crowd was a bit… blue haired? A real Kick Butt Oregon History, no swears gathering, let’s say. Matthew had dug through the archives at OHS, and brought along some additional slides from Clatsop County and some logging selections too – so it was a beefed up version of the typical display.The theater is such an amazing venue, and it was a real honor to have participated again (pssst! We may be doing one in Bend – soon-ish). Check out the Liberty the next time you’re in Astoria – not to be missed.

As the clock ticked past midnight, the internet elves at ORHistoy.com published our 4th ORe-Gasm podcast, which discussed the officialness of the beaver in The Beaver State. Oregon as Fuck, baby – Full. On. Beaver.

Saturday morning found us ringing in Oregon’s Birthday at Fort Stevens, on our field trip where we talked about Oregon in World War 2, as we toured the only military installation in the United States to be attacked during that conflict. We had about 15 folks that joined us, and we served coffee and doughnuts off the tailgate of the Element, along with some adult libations to go in the bottom of those paper cups. We had a wonderful morning touring the Civil War earthworks and the concrete bunkers at the park, talking about 1-25 and Warrant Flying Officer Fujita – the only person to bomb the United States (Oregon, baby!). AND we had a chance to drive through a herd of elk as we exited the park.

Next was the Main Event – the actual Birthday Party, which was held at the Merry Time Bar. This was the show where we revealed the winner of the 2015 Diorama Contest – which was Heather Arndt Anderson, with her depiction of the Roseburg Blast. Competition was tough – with the top 3 dioramas finishing within 4 points of each other. Heather, Matt and Tina brought their creations to the show – so they received 5 points extra. Needless to say, if an orange diorama had made the trip, the result would have been a bit different!

But the cardboard boxes with glue weren’t the only activity of the night – the Resident Historian told one of his favorite Oregon stories, one that took place just a mile or two from the bar – which was the theft of Chief Comcomly’s Skull. AND there was a giant birthday cake for Oregon (cause a birthday party without cake is kinda shitty, huh?).

Astoria was ALIVE with people – there were so many events going on! It was the 2nd Saturday Arts Walk (which is a monthly gallery tour they host) as well as the Dark Arts Festival that Fort George hosts every year. Such a great time to walk around sunny Astoria – just taking everything in. Oh, and drinking. Drinking a lot, it would seem. But good luck finding a brew pub for lunch on Saturday without an hour and a half wait! Beer and burgers is the business in Astoria – and business was good!

But we weren’t quite done yet. Sunday afternoon found us back in Portland for a walking tour! We went deep into Old Town for our reoccurring Walking Tour of Portland’s Sinful Past: Shanghaiers, Saloons and Skullduggery that we operate with PDX Pipeline. If you haven;t been on one of these yet, you should really think about coming on one in the future! We have one scheduled in March and April, and try to do them monthly.

We had a wonderful time celebrating Oregon’s 156th Birthday, and were so pleased to have been able to present you with 5 opportunities to join us in ringing the celebration in!